Apparatus for use in discharging railway vehicles of large capacity



July 7, 1925. A 1,545,472

. I L. HAMILTON APPARATUS FORJUSE IN DISCHARGING RAILWAY VEHICLES OF LARGE CAPACITY Filed Jan. 5, 1925 2'Sheets-Sheet 1 In ve 71207:

July 7, 1925.

W. L. HAMILTON APPARATUS FOR USE IN DISCHARGING RAILWAY VEHICLES OF LARGE CAPACITY 7 Filed Jan. 5, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'F/Q-li 1 ill! Mm-aw Patented July 7, 1925.

WILLIAM LINDSAY HAMILTON, OF GLASGOW, SCOTLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 HAMILTONS AERIAL RAILWAY SYNDICATE,

LIMITED, OF GLASGOW, SCOTLAND.

APPARATUS FOR USE IN DISCHARGING RAILWAY VEHICLES 0]? LARGE CAPACITY.

Application filed January 5, 1923. Serial No. 610,866.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, l/VILLIAM LINDSAY HAMILTON, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and of 171 Renfield Street, Glasgow, Scotland, have invented new and useful Improvements in or Connected with Apparatus for Use in Discharging Railway Vehicles of Large Capacity, of which the following is a specification.

This invention refers to apparatus for use in discharging railway vehicles of large capacity, such, for example, as railway wagons of the open top type, hereinafter and in the claims referred to generally as wagons, and the object of this invention is to provide apparatus whereby a wagon loaded, say, with mineral, refuse, or other material, may by means of a locomotive be brought to a position at which the discharge is to be made, at whichposition means are provided comprising a cradle constructed to receive the wagon and arranged to be operated mechanically by power under control from the locomotive, or by power derived from the locomotive, and hereinafter particularly considered as by movements of the locomotive, involving turning the cradle to effect discharge and counter-turning the cradle to restorethe empty wagon to its up right position, after which the locomotive is used for withdrawing the empty wagon from the position of discharge.

Apparatus provided according to this in vention is constructed capable of being moved into the position where discharge is required to be made and adjusted when desired, for example, as material from successive discharges accumulates, and comprises an upwardly inclined track, an extension therefrom, horizontal or thereabouts, forming a stand, over which the wagon is moved on its way to a cradle provided at the forward end of the stand, the stand being of suflicient length to receive the locomotive, and, if required, what will be termed a buffer vehicle, the apparatus in this case where,

say, the method of operation is by m0vements of the locomotive are used in the process of operation being such that a loaded wagon may be pushed by the locomotive, the buffer vehicle intervening if used, up the incline and over the stand into the era dle. When this is done the locomotive rests upon the stand, the buffer vehicle also used. The wagon is then disconnected, 1f

coupled, and in the particular method of operation to be considered a connection with transmission gear, for operating the cradle, 1s made with the buffer vehicle or locomotwo, and the locomotive is moved backwards and operates through the transmission gear to effect discharge, after which it is moved forward and with it the wagon to its upright posit1on. The wagon is then coupled to the buffor vehicle or to the locomotive if a buffer vehicle is not used and the wagon is with drawn by the locomotive from the apparatus and conveyed along the railway to, say, a station where empty wagons are to be assembled while other wagons are discharged.

An example of apparatus according to this invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus with a buffer vehicle.

Figure 2 is a side elevation and Figure 3 is a plan of the apparatus, without a buffer vehicle, to which the following description particularly applies.

Figure 4; is a front end view and Figure 5 is a rear end view, partly in section, of the cradle. A

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view of a part of the transmission gear. The apparatus illustrated comprises three longitudinal portions, the first a rear portion B having a bed for railswhich merge with and extend from a railway A and incline upwards to a second portion C, the second portion having a bed for rails which extend horizontally or thereabouts, these rails form a continuation of the rails on the rear portion B, the third portion having a cradle D provided with rails which extend horizontally, normally in alignment with the rails on the second portion C, and the cradle which is constructed to receive a wagon E is mounted to turn with its rails about a horizontal axis. The support for the second portion C and its associated third portion is obtained within the region between the rear of the first portion B and the front of the second portion C, by means arranged to bear upon the railway A. For example, flanged wheels may be provided or skids or both. Inthe arrangement illus trated the rails at the terminal of the railway A where discharge is to be made are and operates to restore the cradle straight and the rails on the apparatus are arranged in alignment therewith. Thus, the rails on the first and second portions B and O are each above the corresponding rails of the railway A below.

For discharging purposes mounted toturn about a this case at D parallel to the rails. Transmission gear for turning the cradle may, for example, comprise, as indicated, a cable connection F passing over a" drum 1, forming part of the cradle D and concentricto its axis D This cable which is connected at 2, extends over the drum 1 under a sheave 3 rearwardly to and over a sheave, transversely under sheaves 5 and 6, over a sheave the cradle is 7 and forwardly to a sheave 8 then over the drum 1 and is connected at 9. For connecting the cable with the locomotive G slippers 10 are provided mounted to slide in guides H parallel with the rails, one at each side of the second portion C, and each slipper is provided with a cable clamp 11 and a connecting rod J, so that a temporary connection may be made with the locomotive at either side at J as illustrated or at J With the connection made when the locomotive is driven backwards the cable F is operated and the cradle'turned to effect the discharge and when the locomotive is subsequently driven forward the cradle and with it the wagon is restored to its upright position. In this case the direction of turn depends upon which side the connection is made.

The illustrations show the apparatus in use under conditions where no bearing support is provided beneath the cradle, the whole bearing affording support being in arrear of the front end of the portion 0 which is of such length as will receive the locomotive G, and buffer Vehicle'G if used, and also permit the movements of the locomotive required for operating the cradle to be made'on the second portion C. With horizontal axis, in

this arrangement the weight of the loaded wagon E tending to tilt the apparatus is over balanced by that of the locomotive so that requirement for anchorage will be reduced or may not be necessary. Provision may be made for arresting the wagon when it enters the cradle. For example, spring buffers K may be provided at the outer end of the cradle.

It will be understood that the cradle provided comprises means (not shown in the drawings) so that the wagon will retain its position on the rails of the cradle during discharge or resume its position on the rails after being discharged.

The locomotive may be used to move-the apparatus when adjustment on the railway is required, and as material accumulates the railway A may be extended.

I claim 1. Apparatus comprising an upwardlyinclined track, an extension horizontally therefrom forming a stand a cradle at the forward end of the stand, alocomotive for use in conjunction with the apparatus and means under controlfrom the locomotive for mechanically operating the cradle for the purposes set forth.

2;Apparatus comprising threelongitudinal portions, the'first a rear portion having a bed for rails which merge with and ex tend from a railway to the second portion, the second portion having a bed for rails which extend horizontally or thereabouts and form a continuation'of the rails onthe rear portion, the third portion having a cradle, constructed to receive a wagon, provided with rails which extend horizontally, normally in alignment with the rails on the second portion, and arranged to turn with its rails about a horizontal axis, and transmission gear forturning the cradle actuated by power derived from the locomotive, for the purposes set forth. I

WILLIAM LINDSAY HAMILTON. 

